The Collaborative International Dictionary
despond \de*spond"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.] [L. despond[=e]re, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spond[=e]re to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.] To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view.
I should despair, or at least despond.
--Scott's
Letters.
Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the
first difficulty.
--Locke.
We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its
eyes hitherward, and be assured that the foundations of
our national power still stand strong.
--D. Webster.
Syn: Despond, Dispair.
Usage: Despair implies a total loss of hope, which despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to violent action.
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: despond)
Usage examples of "desponded".
But never, save when the child was ill, had she desponded or abated heart and hope.
I became the victim of ingratitude and cold coquetry--then I desponded, and imagined that my discontent gave me a right to hate the world.